Heel groove molding machine



March 16, 1943. G. HAz'ELToN a-rm.

HEEL GROOVE MOLDING MACHINE I 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Oct. 15, 1941' March 16, 1943. G. HAZELTdN AL 2,313,937

HEEL GROOVE MOLDINQMACHINE Filed on. 15; 1941 2 Sheets-$heet 2' Egg? h Patented Mar. 16, 1943 HEEL GROOVE MOLDING MACHINE George Hazelton and Cyril Harry James, Leicester, England, assignors to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. 5., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 15, 1941, Serial No. 415,100 In Great Britain April 5, 1939 13 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for use in fitting heels to attached soles of shoes and is illustrated as embodied in a machine for molding to predetermined shapes sole-receiving grooves formed in the breasts of heels.

As disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,288,700, granted July 7, 1942, on an application filed in our names, of which the present application is a continuation in part, it has been found that when the lateral margins of the shank and rear end portions of an attached sole of a shoe have been materially beveled, in accordance with the common practice, and the sole and the heel of the shoe have been trimmed to interfit with each other as illustrated in United States Letters Patent No. 2,027,431, granted January 14,

1936, on an application filed in the names of Hazelton et al., the difierence in thickness between median and marginal portions of the outsole which are located rearwardly of the heel breast line tends to prevent the Walls of the end portions of the groove formed in the heel from being forced snugly against the sole, with the result that unsightly gaps are sometimes formed at the upper forward portions of the sides of the heel where the outsole margins do not fill the groove.

It is not practicable to form in the breasts of heels by the use of available trimming machines grooves which are substantially oomplemental to the rear end portions of soles fitted as disclosed in said Patent No. 2,027,431 and, accordingly, as disclosed in said Letters Patent No. 2,288,700, it has been proposed to mold the groove which has been formed in the heel breast by machine to a predetermined shape in accordance with the shape of the rear end portion of the sole to be received in the groove.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine by the use of which solereceiving grooves formed in the breasts of heels may be quickly and efiectively molded to predetermined shapes.

. With the above object in view, and in accordance with a feature of the present invention, the illustrative machine comprises a matrix constructed and arranged to enter a groove formed in a conformable heel, and means for causing opposite Walls of the groove to be forced against the matrix to mold the groove to a shape determined by the matrix.

The illustrative machine is provided with a support having a convex face shaped and arranged to be engaged by the attaching face of a heel having in the upper part of its breast a solereceiving groove which is of V-shaped cross section and extends from one side of the heel to the other, a gage shaped and arranged to be engaged by the rear surface of the heel for positioning the heel on the support, a movable wedgeshaped matrix mounted and arranged to be forced into the groove of the heel positioned and held against rearward movement on the support, and an abutment which is movable against the tread end of the heel to compress the heel heightwise and thereby to mold the groove formed in the heel to a predetermined shape in accordance with the shape of the matrix. The matrix and the abutment are preferably operated by a single treadle, the arrangement being such that the matrix, to which is attached a depth gage or stop, is yieldingly pressed into the groove formed in the'heel until the depth gage engages the breast of the heel, further movement of the treadle causing the abutment to engage the tread end of the heel and, in combination with the support, to compress the heel heightwise.

The various features of the invention will be understood and appreciated from the following detailed description read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side View, partly broken away and partly in section, of the illustrative machine;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the lower portion of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a section on line III-III- of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan View, partly in section, of a heel gage of the illustrative machine;

Fig. 5 shows in perspective a groove molding matrix of the machine;

Figs. 6 and 7 are sections on planes VIVI and VIIVII, respectively, of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a prefinished built-up heel before it has been operated upon by the machine;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the heel of Fig. 8 after it has been operated upon by the machine;

Fig. 10 is a View showing in perspective the heel end of a shoe the rear end of the attached sole of which has been beveled for the reception of the heel of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a section of the sole on line XI-XI' of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective View of the heel end of a finished shoe.

The illustrative machine is described with reference to molding a groove 20 (Fig. 8) which has been formed in the breast of a conformable heel 22 by the use of a machine such, for example, as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No.

2,116,627, granted May 10, 1938, on an application filed in the name of Hazleton, to provide a differently shaped groove 29a (Fig. 9) which is approximately complemental to the fitted rear end portion 24 (Figs. 10 and 12) of an attached sole 26 of a shoe 28 to which the heel is to be attached.

The above-mentioned method of prefitting conformable heels 22 which are made up from leather lifts 29, for example, to the soles of shoes, and the problems attendant on such prefitting, are disclosed in said Letters Patent No. 2,288,700 and need not be further referred to herein.

In order quickly and. effectively to mold the groove (Fig. 8) to the form of groove 2811 (Fig. 9), there is provided a machine which comprises a substantially C-shaped frame 39 (Fig. 1) upper and lower portions of which have coaxial guideways 32, 3 respectively, extending upwardly and rearwardly at an angle of approximately 30 to the vertical. Slidingly mounted for initial. adjustment in the guideway 34 is a block or bed 36 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) the lower end of which has a forwardly extending lug 38 and which has two laterally extending ears 48. Received in a recess 22 (Figs. 1 and 3) in the upper end of the block is a stem I4 depending from a heel support or plate ifi (Fig. l) which has a convex heel-engaging face 58, the plate being prevented from moving about in a longitudinal axis 59 of the block 36 and the stem 46 by the engagement of a fiat surface 52 (Fig. 3) on the stem with a surface 54 on a key piece 55 received in a slot 58 in the block 35.

The lower part of the block 35 has a bore into which is threaded a screw 60 (Figs. 1 and 2) having secured to its lower end a hand-wheel I52. The screw 86 has a flanged portion 64 and a nonthreaded portion which passes through a cylindrical hole 55 in a retaining member 63 which is secured by screws I6 to bars 12 having their upper ends secured by screws 14 to the machine frame 39. The underside of the flanged portion 64 of the screw 68 abuts against the upper face of the retaining member 68 and a face 7'5 on the hand-wheel abuts against the under face of the retaining member 68. "It will thus be clear that the screw 59 is prevented from axial movement and that upon rotation of the hand-wheel 62 axial movement is imparted to the block 36 and to the heel-supporting plate 56, thereby efiecting a heightwise adjustment of said plate. The forward faces of the ears 40 at the lower end of the block 38 are continuously in contact with the rear faces of the bars I2 and prevent any movement of the block about its axis 53,

In order to impart a predetermined shape to the groove 26 (Fig. 8) formed in the heel 22, there is provided a molding plate or matrix 18 (Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 7) which comprises a projecting lip 82 of V-shaped cross section and is mounted and arranged for movement, as will appear presently, to enter the groove 20 in the heel 22 positioned on the plate 46, for the purpose describedin said Letters Patent No. 2,288,700. The matrix I8 is pivoted to the upper part of a carrier 82 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3), which is itself pivoted at its lower end on concentric portions 84 (Figs. 2 and 3) of a fulcrum pin 86 an eccentric portion 88 of which is received in the forwardly extending lug 38 of the block 36. After loosening a locking screw 98, rotation of the pin 86 effects heightwise adjustment of the matrix 78 relatively to the heel supporting plate 46.

The matrix 78 is pivoted on a pin 32 (Figs.

1 and 2) which passes through upstanding ears on the carrier 82 and through a cylindrical recess in the matrix. A friction washer 94 (Fig. 2) bears against opposed faces of the carrier 82 and the matrix 73, respectively, and prevents free movement of the matrix about its fulcrum pin 92.

To prevent the matrix It from being accidentally moved to such a position that the forward edge thereof will not enter the groove 20 in the heel 22 positioned upon the support 46 when,

7 as will hereinafter be described, the carrier 82 bracket II2 (Figs. 1 and 2).

is swung rearwardly, movement of the matrix about the pin 92 is limited by two screws 86 threaded into the carrier and arranged to contact a face 98 of the matrix. Extending rearwardly from the matrix It is a lug I88 (Figs. 1, 2 and 5) into which is threaded an adjustable heel breast stop I92 (Figs. 1, 5 and '7) shaped and arranged to engage the breast surface of the heel 22 and to prevent the matrix 78 from being urged too far into the groove 20 in the breast of the heel.

In order that the heel to be operated upon may be quickly and effectively positioned upon the face 48 of the plate 45 and also to prevent its displacement when the matrix F8 is urged into the groove 20 in the heel, th illustrative apparatus is provided with a back gage or stop I04 (Figs. 1 and 4) The gage I94, as viewed from above (Fig. 4), has a concave heel-engaging surface I06 provided by a leather facing [98 and is mounted between the forwardly extending flanges III] of a forked Slots I I4 are formed in the bracket IE2 and provide a guideway for stems H5 (Fig. 4) of two screws I I8 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) which are threaded into each side of the gage I04. When the screws H8 are slacked, the gage may be adjusted up and down between the flanges III] of the bracket H2, the gage being guided by the engagement of the stems IIB of the screws I IS in the slots I I4. Tightening of the screws I I8 effectsthe locking of the gage I64 in its adjusted heightwise position. The gage I04 overlies somewhat the attaching face 48 of the plate 46 and, in order that the plate may be quickly removed when it is desired to substitute therefor a plate of different size and/or shape, the bracket H2 is mounted upon the machine frame 30 in such a manner that it may be instantly removed therefrom. For this purpose, each of the flanges III) of the bracket I I2 is provided with an open-ended slot I25 and the bracket merely hangs on pins I22 which are secured to the machine frame 30 and engage the upper ends of the slots. The centers of the pins I22 lie somewhat to the rear of the gage Iii i, which tends to swing downwardly and to the rear away from its heel-engaging position. This is prevented by the contactin of a face I24 on the bracket [I2 with the forward end of an adjustable rod I26 the rear portion of which is screw-threaded into the machine frame, the rod serving forwardly and rearwardly to adjust the bracket I I2, and therefore the gage I95, in the machine. In order to insure against the rod I 25 accidentally becoming loose during the operation of the machine, there is provided a coil retaining spring I2? the forward end of which engages the machine frame 30 and the H. 21 portion of which is in engagement with a shoulder on the rod.

After the heel 22 has been positioned upon the face 48 of the plate 46 with its rear surface abutting against the surface I06 of the gage I04, the carrier 82 is swung rearwardly about its fulcrum pin 86 to cause the matrix 18 to enter the groove 20 in the breast of the heel 22 At the same time, a plunger or abutment I28 slidably mounted in the guideway 32 is moved downwardly into engagement with the tread surface of the heel 22.

For imparting such movement to the parts there is provided a treadle (not shown) having an upwardly extending rod I30 pivotally connected at its upper end to a lever I32 by a fulcrum pin I34. Also connected to the lever I32 by the fulorum pin I34 is an upwardly extending rod I36, which will be referred to later. The lever I32 extends forwardly from the pin I34 and is fulcrumed between its ends on a pin I38 secured in the main frame 39. The forward end of the lever I32 is pivotally connected to a link Hill the upper end of which is connected by a pin M2 to an upstanding arm I44 of a bell-crank lever MS pivoted on a fulcrum pin M8 of the machine frame. An arm I50 of the bell-crank lever I416 has a block I 52 pivoted thereon through a hole in which passes a rod I54. the forward end of which is pivotally connected to the carrier 82.

The portion of the rod I53 which passes through the hole in the block 552 is of smaller diameter than the forward part of the rod, and a shoulder I56 formed thereby is normally held in engagement with the forward face of the block I52 by a spring I58 surrounding the rod and confined between the rear face of the block I52 and a nut #66 threaded onto the end of the rod. Depression of the treadle through the mechanism just described swings the carrier 82 rearwardly and urges th matrix I8 into the groove 26 in the heel 22 until the heel breast stop I62 engages the breast surface of the heel. Thereafter, any further depression of the treadle is allowed for by the yieldable connection provided by the spring I58 between the bell-crank lever I46 and the rod I 3.

The upwardly extending rod I36 above mentioned is pivoted at its upper end to an upwardly extending arm I52 which is pivotally mounted on A a fulcrum pin I64 secured in the machine frame 35 and is pivotiaily connected to a link I68 having its lower end connected by a pin I58 to the upper end of the plunger I28.

The arm IE2 and the link I65 provide a toggle which, when the treadle is raised, is broken and maintains the plunger I28 in a raised position. When the treadle is depressed, first to move the matrix I8 into the groove 29 in the heel 22, the toggle is straightened to move the lower end of the plunger I23 into pressing engagement with the tread surface of the heel 22. Adjustment of the parts is such, however, that the lower end of the plunger I28 does not contact with the tread surface of the heel until after the matrix I8 has i entered the groove 28 in the heel 22 and the stop IIJZ has contacted the breast of the heel. This condition is obtained by the heightwise adjustment of the block 36 and the plate 46. In order to prevent the toggle from moving past its fully straightened position, there is provided a stop screw I?!) arranged to contact with the arm I62.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine for operating upon heels having, in combination, a matrix constructed and arranged to enter a groove formed in a conformable heel, and means constructed and arranged to operate against the heel and to force opposite walls of the groove against the matrix whereby to mold the groove to a shape determined by the matrix. I

2. A machine for operating upon heels having, in combination, a support for a conformable heel in which is formed a groove, 2. matrix, means for effecting relative movement of the support and the matrix to cause said matrix to enter the groove, an abutment, and means for eifecting relative movement of the support and the abutment to cause walls of the groove to be forced with considerable pressure against the matrix thereby molding the groove to a predetermined shape in accordance with the shape of the matrix. ,1;

3. A machine for operating upon heels having, in combination, a support constructed and arranged to be engaged by the attaching face of a conformable heel which has in its breast a solereceiving groove, a matrix constructed and arranged to be forced into the groove of the heel mounted upon the support, an abutment constructed and arranged to engage the tread end of the heel, and means for effecting relative movement of the support and the abutment heightwise of the heel to force the opposite walls of the groove with considerable pressure against the matrix thereby molding the groove to a predetermined shape in accordance with the shape of the matrix.

i. A machine for operating upon heels having, in combination, a support constructed and arranged to be engaged by the attaching face of a conformable heel which has in its breast a solereceiving groove, a stop for holding the heel against rearward movement on the support, a matrix constructed and arranged to be forced into said groove of the heel which is mounted upon the support and is in engagement with said stop, an abutment, and means for moving the abutment toward the support to force the attaching face of the heel against the support and to force opposite walls of the groove against the matrix thereby molding the groove to a predetermined shape in accordance with the shape of the matrix.

5. A machine for operating upon heels having, in combination, a support constructed and arranged to be engaged by the attaching face of a conformable heel which has in its breast a solereceiving groove, a gage shaped and arranged to be engaged by the rear face of the heel for positioning the heel upon the support, said gage being mounted for bodily adjustment heightwise and lengthwise of the heel and for pivotal adjustment about an axis extending widthwise of the heel, an abutment constructed and arranged to engage the tread end of the heel; and means for effecting relative movement of the support and the abutment heightwise of the heel to force opposite walls of the groove with considerable pressure against the matrix thereby molding the groove to a predetermined shape in accordance with the shape of the matrix.

6. A machine for operating upon heels having, in combination, a support constructed and arranged to be engaged by the attaching face of a conformable heel which has in its breast a solereceiving groove, a block for interchangeably receiving in fixed relation thereto any one of a plurality of supports having work-engaging faces of different shapes, a matrix pivotally mounted upon said block, means for swinging the matrix with relation to the block to force said matrix into the groove of the heel mounted upon the support, an abutment constructed and arranged to be engaged by the tread end of the heel, and means for moving the abutment toward the support to force opposite walls of the groove with considerable pressure against the matrix thereby molding the groove to a predetermined shape in accordance with the shape of the matrix.

'7. A machine for operating upon heels having, in combination, a support constructed and arranged to be engaged by the attaching face of a conformable heel which has in its breast a solereceiving groove, means for positioning the heel upon the support, a matrix movable lengthwise of the heel and constructed and arranged to be forced into said groove, said matrix being tiltable heightwise of the heel to facilitate its entry into the groove, an abutment, and means for effecting relative movement of the support and the matrix on the one hand and the abutment on the other hand to cause opposite walls of the groove to be forced with considerable pressure against the matrix thereby molding the groove.

8. A machine for operating upon heels having, in combination, a support for a conformable heel in the breast of which is formed a groove, a gage for locating the heel with relation to the support, a movable matrix, a stop movable with the matrix, means for moving the matrix and the stop with relation to the support to cause the matrix to enter the groove in the heel to a depth determined by the engagement of said stop with the breast of the heel, an abutment, and means for effecting relative movement of the support and the abutment to force opposite walls of the groove with considerable pressure against the matrix thereby molding the groove to a predetermined shape in accordance with the shape of the matrix.

9. A machine for operating upon heels having, in combination, a support for a conformable heel, a gage shaped and arranged to position and to limit rearward movement of the heel on the support, a carrier mounted for movement about an axis with relation to said support, a matrix mounted upon the carrier, means for swinging the carrier together with the matrix relatively to the support to cause the matrix to enter the groove in the heel, means for varying the position of said axis with relation to the support to facilitate entry of the matrix into the groove, an abutment, and means for moving the abutment relatively to the support to force opposite walls of the groove against the matrix thereby molding the groove to a predetermined shape.

10. A machine for operating upon heels having, in combination, a support for a conformable heel in which is formed a groove, a gage for positioning the heel upon the support, a matrix mounted for bodily movement toward and away from the heel, an abutment movable toward and away from the support, and means constructed and arranged to move the matrix with a yielding action into the groove formed in the heel and then to force the abutment against the heel to cause opposite walls of the groove to be forced against the matrix thereby molding the groove to a predetermined shape in accordance with the shape of the matrix.

11. A machine for operating upon heels having. in combination, a support shaped and arranged to be engaged by the attaching face of a conformable heel in the breast of which is formed a sole-receiving groove, a gage constructed and arranged to engage the rear face of the heel to position and to limit rearward movement of the same upon the support, a matrix, a stop movable together with the matrix toward and away from the breast of the heel, an abutment constructed and arranged to engage the toplift end of the heel, and means constructed and arranged yieldingly to force the matrix into the groove in the breast of the heel to an extent determined by said stop and then to force the abutment with considerable pressure against the top-lift end of the heel to force opposite walls of the groove against the matrix thereby molding the groove to a predetermined shape in accordance with the shape of the matrix.

12. A machine for operating upon heels having, in combination, a support constructed and arranged to be engaged by the attaching face of a conformable heel which has a sole-receiving groove, a block for interchangeably receiving in fixed relation thereto any one of a plurality of supports having work-engaging faces of different shapes, a matrix mounted for pivotal movement with relation to said block, means for swinging the matrix with relation to the block to force said matrix into the groove in the heel mounted upon the support, an abutment coimtructed and arranged to engage the heel, means for moving the abutment toward the support to force opposite walls of the groove with considerable pressure against the matrix in order to mold the groove to a predetermined shape in accordance with the shape of the matrix, and means for initially moving the block together with the matrixinto different adjusted positions toward and away from the abutment.

13. A machine for operating upon heels having, in combination, a support for a conformable heel, a gage shaped and arranged to position and to limit rearward movement of the heel on the support, a carrier mounted for movement with relation to said support, a matrix tiltably mounted upon the carrier, means for moving the carrier together with the matrix relatively to the support to cause the matrix to enter the groove in the heel, an abutment, and means for movin the abutment relatively to the support to force opposite walls of the groove against the matrix to mold the groove to a predetermined shape.

GEORGE HAZELTON. CYRIL HARRY JAMES. 

